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of Minneapolis, and his sister, Miss Mary C. Mahoney, of Massachusetts, and to Mr. Mahoney’s daughter, Miss
Katie Mahoney, making her first trip to Ireland.
The gathering was also invited to applaud the presence of two sisters from Canada, Miss Noreen Mahoney, of
Calgary, Alberta, and Mrs. Lynne Garner, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They were the descendants of Timothy O
Mahony who emigrated to America in about 1825 as a boy and married, in New York in 1847, Ann Conway, from
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. There were 14 children of the marriage of whom the fifth son, Morgan, was the sisters’
grandfather. Timothy had 35 grandchildren; four of his sons and daughters married Daly sisters and brothers.
Professor O Mathghamhna outlined briefly a proposal to establish a records society which would fund research
into family history and links in Munster. He saw this as an urgent need because much of the verbal tradition and
accurate knowledge perished with the passing of older people. It was intended to circularise as many as possible
before the next rally.
Nora Ni Shúilliobháin, secretary of the Eoin O Mahony Bursary, said the fund now stood at over £2,000 and it
was intended that as soon as it reached £3,000 it would be used to promote wider research of Irish matters in
continental archives.
In the election of officers, Peter Tynan O Mahony was elected Cathaoirleach after the office was declined by
James O Mahony, of Bandon. C.D. Mahoney was re-elected as Tanaiste, and John F. O Mahony as Runai. Donal
O Mahony (Clonakilty) was elected Cisteoir. Council members: Professor O Mathghamhna; Edward O Mahony,
B.Sc. (Dublin); Michael O Mahony, B.E. (Dublin); Denis O Mahony (Skibbereen); Colman O Mathuna (Cork);
Very Rev. T. A. O Regan, P.P. (Belgooly); Nora Ni Shúilliobháin (Dublin); Mrs. Mary Cotter (Douglas); and Denis O
Donoghue (Bantry).
Castlemore was chosen as the site of the 1976 rally, the date to be fixed as near as possible for the middle of July.
A specimen of inscribed tapestry, hand-worked by Miss Mary C. Mahoney and mounted and framed, was raffled
and was won by Mrs. Mary Dolan of Emmett Square, Clonakilty. The inscription, in green and black lettering on
a gold background, read: “There are no strangers in Ireland – only friends you haven’t met before.” A sum of £8
was raised and was donated by Miss Mahoney to help defray rally expenses.
A dinner-dance was later held at the West Lodge Hotel in Bantry, and a splendid evening was enjoyed by the 76
who attended. Music was again provided by the O Brien family of Ballineen, and there was entertainment by
kinsmen – adult and child – with songs, recitations, and music.
Sources:
Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/
Finley, Finola, Roaring Water Journal, www.roaringwaterjournal.com
The Irish Aesthete https://theirishaesthete.com/tag/leamcon-castle
The O Mahony Journal, Vol. 6, 1976, pp 7-10
Samuel, Mark Wycliffe, THE TOWER HOUSES OF WEST CORK, 1998 https://www.academia.edu/128084289/
The_Tower_houses_of_West_Cork
Yah, Cork https://www.yaycork.ie/
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